I Declined N500m Gifts from Ministers, DGs During My Mother’s Burial – EFCC Chair
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has revealed that he rejected monetary gifts totaling N500 million from government officials during his mother’s funeral in 2019.
Speaking at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room in Abuja on Thursday, Olukoyede disclosed that the offers, which included cheques and bank drafts, were sent by ministers, directors, and heads of government agencies.
At the time, he was serving as the Secretary of the EFCC.
Recounting the experience, Olukoyede said he had returned to his hometown in Ekiti State for the burial when his gatekeeper handed him a box filled with cheques. Upon reviewing them, he realized the total amounted to nearly N500 million and decided to return the money.
He narrated:
“I lost my mother in 2019. A day before the funeral, I arrived at my family home and found about 17 cows in my compound, including pregnant ones. When I got inside, my gate man handed me a box, and inside it, I saw numerous cheques and drafts from ministers, permanent secretaries, directors, and DGs of various agencies.
“I showed them to my wife, and she said, ‘Praise God.’ But I asked, ‘Praise God for what?’ After counting, the total was close to N500 million.
Olukoyede emphasized that while these funds were presented as traditional gifts, some were from government agencies under EFCC investigation at the time.
“Some gave me N1 million, others N20 million, and more. Even though it wouldn’t have influenced my decisions, how would I have explained to an investigative panel that I received such amounts from officials under investigation?”
He highlighted the ethical dilemmas that public officials face, stressing the need for integrity in governance.
